Architecture and Regional Planning

Inception and Evolution: One of the pioneering Architecture Departments in India, the Department of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur, was conceived for ensuring a holistic integration of the development of science and technology with the normative and cultural dimensions of human society. The first of its kind in the IIT system, the department started its journey in 1952 with the undergraduate course in architecture. In 1959, the first postgraduate course in planning was introduced by the Department, and the first doctoral degree was awarded in 1970. This department is now well recognized for its contribution in both undergraduate and post-graduate teaching, research projects in varied domains and professional involvements in the form of consultancies and sponsored researches. Strengths: - Blend of modern building science & technology, with Indian vernacular & traditional concepts. - Active role in capacity building of other institutes in the form of training programmes. - Active participation in architectural & planning consultancy. - Societal programmes for employment generation and self-reliance. - Blend of modern building science & technology, with Indian Vision: Keeping with needs and demands of the present time, our department is now geared up towards spreading its wings in the form of international collaboration and interdisciplinary specializations. Collaborative research with leading institutes, international fellowships for joint research, internship opportunities in leading firms of the country and abroad, International Summer Winter School, mega projects which are essentially interdisciplinary in nature, micro specializations, hosting visiting scholars of national and international repute, workshops by leading professionals, are keys to our present endeavour. We are also strongly networked with our alumni, successfully established all over the world and intensive plans to set up a) an AI related DESIGN Center intertwined with our M.Arch program and b) An advanced Planning Simulation Lab based on IoT and AI.in coming 2 years (2018 -2020).

Amid the largest campus and among the most number of departments in all IITs, Architecture and Regional Planning at Kharagpur is perhaps the most unique department that blends science and art to perfection and deals with human technology. Here we conceive architecture and planning both as a discipline as well as a profession. Our courses are structured in a way that enhances the teaching-learning experience, giving the students in-depth technical know how, exposure to state of the art laboratories and freedom to apply their creative minds to the hilt. We also draw our strength from the sister departments and faculty members of mechanical, civil, electrical engineering, humanities and social sciences among others. They are an integral part of our family. The department hails the ancient wisdom of Indian Design Phiosphy - 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam'' (Our designed Habitations are mere reflections of our integrated emotional interconnectedness which are deep, universal and represent one family of Human Habits")

The Department has worldclass collaboration with the Ivyleague foundation universities like Columbia University on PROJECT Varanasi; with MIT, Cambridge on PROJECT Santiniketan; and expected Advanced GIS Lab studios with GeorgiaTech Atlanta (2018-19)